What does "commons" mean?
plural of common
Commons
/ˈkɑmənz/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: plural of common
- Grammar: commons is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: common land, allotment, allowance, board.
- Useful contrasts: elites, human land, inclosing.
- Usage evidence: The British Parliament is divided into the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
How to use "commons"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "commons" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "commons" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "commons" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "commons" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "commons" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "common land" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "commons", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 plural of common form-of, plural
- 2 A public area, especially a dining hall, at a college or university; a similar shared spaced elsewhere. singular, usually
- 3 the common people wordnet
- 4 A common (common land); especially, a central section of (usually an older) town, designated as a shared area. singular, usually
"The Renaissance festival started with the "peasants" meeting in the commons."
- 5 a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank wordnet
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 The mutual good of all; the abstract concept of resources shared by more than one, for example air, water, information. figuratively
""The tragedy of the commons" is that none wish to make sacrifices of their or their family's interests for the common good."
- 7 a pasture subject to common use wordnet
- 8 The common people collectively, the third estate, the people not belonging to the nobility or clergy
"We in the name of other Perſean ſtates [i.e. nobles], And commons of this mightie Monarchy, Preſent thee with the Emperiall Diadem."
- 9 a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area wordnet
- 10 The free burghers/bourgeoisie of a given town, taken collectively. historical
- 11 An outhouse. euphemistic, obsolete
- 12 Food served at a fixed rate from the college buttery, distinguished from battels. UK, obsolete
"At the same time, the fashion at Oxford of confining lunch to a "commons" of bread and butter and a glass of beer till the crew reaches Putney (when a little meat is allowed,) is unreasonable."
- 13 Food in general; rations.
"short commons"
Verb
- 1 third-person singular simple present indicative of common form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Proper Noun
- 1 The House of Commons, part of the parliament under the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Canadian, UK
- 2 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The British Parliament is divided into the House of Commons and the House of Lords."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "commons"?
Common synonyms include: common land, allotment, allowance, board, bourgeoisie, c ration.
How do you use "commons" in a sentence?
The British Parliament is divided into the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
How do you pronounce "commons"?
Pronounced /ˈkɑmənz/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Ellipsis of House of Commons.
Etymology 2
* English and Irish (Mayo Tipperary and Galway): variant of Cummings. * English: variant of Common with post-medieval excrescent -s.